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There are two possible resurrections for every person. These are the
first resurrection and the general resurrection. The first resurrection
includes ONLY the RIGHTEOUS dead. It takes place in three stages,
one of which has already occurred as recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:20–23.
A. The harvest analogy
In the scriptures, the first resurrection has been compared to the
traditional harvests in ancient Israel. This provides an easy method
for describing an otherwise confusing sequence of events.
The harvest was to be gathered in three distinct increments according
to the law given to Moses as found in Leviticus 23:9–22. The
earliest crop to ripen was barley and per Leviticus 23:9–14,
a sheaf of the very first of the barley harvest had to be brought
to the priest for an offering to the Lord on the first Sabbath after
it was cut. This was called the firstfruits of the harvest.
Over the next 50 days all the rest of the crops, including the later
grains, were to be harvested. When the harvest was over, the Israelites
had to bring the first loaves of bread baked from the newly harvested
wheat to the priest as the firstfruits of the entire harvest.
Whenever the Israelites harvested any crops, they were warned not
to gather everything in the field or vineyard. They were commanded
to leave some for the poor and the strangers among them to gather
for their own use. This remaining portion was called the gleanings
(Leviticus 23:22; Leviticus 19:9–10).
Thus the three divisions of the ingathering of the crops were called
the firstfruits, the harvest, and the gleanings. As you can see from
the chart and references below, the first resurrection or ingathering
of the saints precisely follows this pattern.
| Time |
3
Days After the Crucifixion |
Middle
of Tribulation |
End
of Tribulation |
End
of Millennium |
| Resurrection |
1st
Resurrection (Firstfruits) |
1st
Resurrection (Harvest) |
1st
Resurrection (Gleanings) |
2nd
or General Resurrection |
| Judgment |
None |
Judgment
Seat of Christ |
Judgment
Seat of Christ |
Great
White Throne |
| References |
1
Corinthians 15:20– 23 |
Revelation
11:18; 14:14–16 |
Revelation
19:4–5 |
Revelation
20:11–15 |
1
| 2
| 3
| 4
| 5
| 6
| 7
| 8
| 9
| 10
| 11
| 12
| 13
| 14
| 15
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